The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-03
"A YEARS RAILWAY TRAFFIC.
The Business of the Year 1886 Makes a
Favorable and Satisfactory Exhibit.
The Year Just Opening Promises Even Better
Results, Both in Freight and Passenger
Seryice-The Weekly Car Movement.

The exhibit given below shows the number of
ears received and forwarded at Indianapolis over
the fifteen roads centerine here ia the year 1886,
as compared with that of thirteen preceding
years also the movement by months for six
years past These statements are compiled from
the train records weekly, aud are statistics of
value to such extent do they represent the
pulse OF business. 1t will be noticed that in the
year just closed there were 20,328 more loaded
ears handled at Indianapolis than in the year
1855, and II. OIL more than in 1884, and that only
In 1882 has the movement exceeded that of 1886.
The year 1882 was not by any means as profit
able 10 the roads as the year just closed, so
terribly were rates cut Right here it is proper
TO state that even the year 1882 would have
been discounted handsomely had the roads been
able to obtain to carry the business offered.
An analysis of the business of the year just
closed shows the volume Of traffic was the larg
est in the months of March, August, October
and December, in each month the movement
exceeding that of the corresponding month of
1855 Take the year through the east-bound
= Coinage was some lighter than in 1885, although
sne last four months it has exceed that Of 1885.
and but for the scarcity of cars the tonnage of
of 1885. In westbou tonnage there was a
marked increase, it reaching the largest figures
in the history of the roads which carry business
westward, and this is the more striking, as
lighter tonnage of anthracite Goals and coke was
brought west than usual during the summer and
Fall months The through business of the north
and south lines about the same in 1886 as in
1855 southwark, but northward it was somewhat
in excess Local business was the heaviest in
the history Of Indianapolis roads, and the north
and south lines were especially favored, as is
demonstrated In the handsome increase in earn
3ngs Of the L., N A. & G., the c., l., St l.. &
c., the ], & ". the j.. NJ. g. l. and the c. II. &
J. in connection with the Airline division of the
L., n. A. d C. Good crops have had much TO do
with making the exhibit OF the year as favorable
70 ne local movement as it was. Then again
st should be borne in mind that Indianapolis
roads suffered nothing, comparatively speaking
from strikes, which SO unfavorably affected rail
road interests In the Southwest and the North
west. and from this fact railroad en-
ploy' S may we'll draw lesson as without
strikes indianapolis lines have been greatly
Prospered, and on nearly all roads the men have
inade the best pay in either Of the preceding
years since the mania to cut down expenses
cana over railway managers; and what is still
better the year 1887 opens under more favorable
auspices for the prosperity of railroads than has
any preceding year since the railroad interests
became SO important feature of the industries
OF this country. During the year 1886 the vol
time Of traffic increased the most srrikincly with
9he Indianapolis g Vncennes road. That of the
T., L.. st. l. 81 G. and the c., III. g. L. however.
Snust be quite satisfactory to the managements
fhe Bee-ne has made record. and maintained
rates as WELL Of which the management need not
pe ashamed. Especially has their west bound
frafiic been more than satisfactory. All lines
have done good years work, with prospects
that even this will be improved upon In 1887
Below Is given the number of loaded cars, bv
months, received and forwarded at indianapolis
IN the year 1886 and the Ave preceding years